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Experiencing Marine Reseves

Our programme

Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) - Te Kura Moana is a national programme of experiential learning about marine conservation. We empower by providing hands-on experience in the ocean. The programme sets kids abuzz before progressing to developing their snorkelling skills in a pool then heading to the marine environment. We increase awareness and encourage action and support for marine conservation.


EMR coordinators offer guidance, direction and coordination of classroom exercises and field trips to the ocean. EMR seeks funding to provide the full EMR programme to schools.  Our full programmes involve investigating marine biodiversity via a classroom presentation, a pool session and snorkel in a local marine environment before venturing to a marine protected area. After this experience, students are able to compare unprotected and protected areas and are encouraged to put their knowledge into action within the community.

 
Snorkel equipment provided
We  provide snorkel equipment, instruction, resources and snorkel risk management. For many students, it is their first time using snorkel gear. EMR snorkelling experiences recommends a 1:2 adult/student ratio for year 8 and below, the result being active involvement of many family and community members. 

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Casual 'User paid' snorkel experiences
In addition to the full EMR programme outlined above. EMR is interested in getting as many people as possible to ‘experience’ a marine reserve and the marine environment. EMR offers ‘once off’ introductory snorkel experiences (run in accordance with EMR snorkel Risk Assessment & Management Systems, EMR Kaupapa (looking & learning) and conditions outlined in the itinerary created for the task. We offer these experiences at marine reserves or locations of choice (e.g. as part of your school camp).

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 “We work with hearts and minds. These are the building blocks for people to create emotional connections with their environment.”

Samara Nicholas, EMR founder

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School Programmes

Te Kura Moana in action

Full programme - often fully funded

STEP 1

Classroom learning

Interactive presentations and games.

STEP 2

Learn to snorkel in a pool

Developing skills for the ocean.

STEP 3

Explore local marine environment

STEP 4

Compare to a protected area

Either by snorkel, intertidal activities or in some regions by kayak. Tamariki are able to see first hand the challenges their local environment is facing and can brainstorm ways to help it.

STEP 5

Taking the students to a marine reserve or rāhui for a snorkel.

Create an action project

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After this experience, students are able to compare unprotected and protected areas and are encouraged to put their knowledge into action within the community. With the best action projects from around Aotearoa earning a spot on the Annual Poor Knights Trip.

Casual programmes - user paid

Tailor a programme to your needs

Needing activities to add to your school camp? Field trips to tie into Outdoor Education, biology or PE standards? We are able to create a programme to suit. Contact us using to form above to get a quote. We are able to work alongside schools to apply for funding through Tū Manawa Aotearoa and local councils. 

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Health and Safety

We are adventure tourism accredited and organise all the Health and Safety paperwork so that you don't have to. 

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Events

Free or subsidised community events

Each region has their own events and ways to register. 

All equipment is provided free of charge. 

Koha is appreciated, either money or time volunteering at a future event.

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Snorkel Days

Participants are buddied with an experienced volunteer snorkel guide and taken for a guided tour. Either walk in or expressions of interest online.

Paddle Days

Partnering with a local Kayak or Stand up provider we explore inner harbour areas that wouldn't be suitable for snorkelling. Pre-registration required.

Exploration Snorkel

Adventure Snorkel

We book a ferry to transport us to an island or inaccessible part of the mainland. We are dropped off and will snorkel from the beach. The snorkelling will usually be free - but there may be some cost for the ferry.

Partnering with a local operator we travel to offshore islands and snorkel from the boat. Often these trips will be subsidised or act as a fundraiser. Often suitable for more experienced snorkelers.

Our snorkel sites

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Annual Poor Knights Trip

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Marine kaitiaki guardians from the Far North to the Deep South rewarded with Poor Knights snorkel experience! 

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The annual EMR competition trip is made up of representative students from each school that that participates in the programme. We now offer the trip to all eight regions where EMR is operating, thanks to sponsorship from Dive! Tutukaka and the Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation.

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Since 2002, we have taken representatives from 373 schools, totalling 531 students on this annual trip!

Once in a lifetime snorkel trip

The best action projects and artworks completed by students are selected to represent their region.

The location

The Poor Knights is one of the Top 10 dive sites in the world. Tickled by the EAC (East Auckland Current) it has tropical visitors as well at numerous schools of trevally and snapper. It has been fully protected since 1998 by a marine reserve.

The experience

For Northland and Auckland representatives it is a daytrip out to the Poor Knights on Perfect Day. For our regional representatives, it is a 3 day trip, staying at Matapouri Holiday Units, with a dinner at Schnappa Rock. All flights and accommodation is inclusive for the student and their guardian.

Criteria

What does it take to be selected?

Previous trips

2021 - Poor Knights Competition Trip
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2021 - Poor Knights Competition Trip

The twentieth anniversary Poor Knights competition trip in partnership with Dive! Tutukaka took place on the 14th May 2021 and included students from as far north as Waiharara and as far south as Rakiura - Stewart Island. Students are selected based on their action projects undertaken and enthusiasm they show when studying & experiencing the marine environment. In addition to the opportunity to represent their school or region for the EMR ACTION prize, we offer the EMR Ocean Art prize. The Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation supports this special prize for young kiwis that have experienced the marine environment with EMR and display that passion and experience through art. The national expansion of EMR in the regions is supported by The Tindall Foundation Action projects included removal of invasive seaweed, citizen science fish surveys, shellfish monitoring, wetland restoration, a mufti day and ocean disco fundraiser, presentations to parents, upcycling waste to furniture, murals and marine artwork on a double decker bus! We had 34 students and 29 guardians from 25 schools from 7 regions of Aotearoa including Northland, Auckland, Taranaki, Gisborne, Mountains to Sea Wellington, EMR Nelson and Rakiura (Stewart Island). Special guests included rangatahi/taitamariki who are in training with EMR thanks to the support of Foundation North and students from the first competition trip twenty years ago! This time Cameron Pene experienced the Poor Knights with his daughter Dylan -Rose. Since 2002, we have taken representatives from 351 schools, totalling 500 students on this annual trip! On board the vessel ‘Perfect Day’ our snorkel site this year was the stunning ‘Garden’s at Maroro Bay, part of the Poor Knights Islands that have been protected by no-take status since 1981. A commotion amongst the boat’s crew alerted Ben and Bryce Wigley from Kaingaroa School who were first on the scene for a glimpse of a sunfish before it headed for deeper water. They were treated to a face to face encounter with the charismatic fish and observed its interactions with a group of king fish. The cave snorkelling experiences were particularly memorable this year. The conditions allowed safe snorkelling through the dark passages of the caves where vast schools of blue maomao lingered. Thousands of two spot demoiselles were feeding on the surface. Participants were delighted to see scorpion fish, black angel fish, massive snapper and friendly sandagers wrasse. Here's to another 20 years of getting students experiencing marine reserves!
2018 Poor Knights Annual Trip
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2018 Poor Knights Annual Trip

Our 17th annual Poor Knights trip was a success with a full boat on Perfect Day heading to Blue Mao Mao Arch. Huge thank you to The Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation Foundation for allowing us to bring students and their parents from Otago to Kaitaia. Thanks to Dive! Tutukaka for getting us out there and for sponsoring the students trip out. Darryl Torckler Photographer for taking amazing images of the students. Schnappa Rock Restaurant & Bar for the beaut dinner, Matapouri Holiday Units for the lovely accommodation and to Whangarei Coastal Commuters for getting us from A to B. We can't run this trip without the National Support of the The Tindall Foundation, Foundation North, the Department of Conservation Community Fund, Lotteries Grant Board, Wettie Spearfishing & Wetsuits and the Whangarei Lions Club. Filmed and edited by Lorna Doogan. Additional footage by Vince Kerr. Music 'Summer' and 'Creative Minds' by Bensound.com
2017 Poor Knights Annual Trip
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2017 Poor Knights Annual Trip

Experiencing Marine Reserves - EMR had our 16th Annual Poor Knights trip on Friday the 26th of May 2017. With the sponsorship of Dive! Tutukaka and The Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation we were able to take 59 students and parents from Otago to the Far North to the beautiful Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve off the coast of Tutukaka, New Zealand. The students that produced the best action projects and artworks were chosen from each region. EMR has national sponsorship from The Tindall Foundation and the Department of Conservation Community Fund. Northland and Auckland delivery support thanks to Foundation North. Special mention to Whangarei Coastal Commuters, Schnappa Rock Restaurant & Bar, Darryl Torckler Photography, Rent-A-Cheepy and Hilton Leith. Wetsuits provided by Wettie Spearfishing & Wetsuits. Filmed and edited by Lorna Doogan. Music 'He Rā Ki Tua' by Allana Goldsmith Music and Ed Taylor. www.allanagoldsmith.com
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Marine Advocacy

Maitai Rāhui

Te Whanau Moana me Te Rorohuri implemented a no-take rahui covering 384 ha at Maitai Bay in 2017. The rahui was implemented due to concern about the ongoing degradation of the health/mauri of the area, which has been subject to heavy fishing pressure for the past several decades. Extensive kina barrens, associated with a loss of large predators on the reef, now cover much of the shallow rocky reef within the Maitai Bay. The rahui was implemented and is upheld directly by Te Whanau Moana me Te Rorohuri.

Rakino Island

EMR has assisted the residents of Rakino Island in Auckland to set up a marine monitoring programme. 

Love Rimurimu

Our provider organisation, Mountains to Sea Wellington has created the Love Rimurimu project.

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